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Well, I have yet to experience a wedding and grandchildren at my ripe age of 59. But I do have a 31 year old daughter who will hopefully fullfil those dreams like Ellie and John have experienced. She still has Miss April to contend with and I know how exasperating those moments are as outlined in today's strip. I look forward to seeing how April's adult life will play out like I do with the rest of the Patterson kids. Thanks Ann for providing this diversion for me and obviously it's cathartic as well.

Ellen M, Rockville MD

Dear Lynn,

In all the years of John and Elly raising their kids, I've never seen them rebuke the children when they became disrespectful. Instead they took it out on each other. I know it's comical, but it doesn't hurt once in a while to tell them what's really on the parents' mind. April was such a brat today, sometimes she needs to be put in her place. Maybe with a "comocal" way?

Lynn, you are still number one and thank you for listening.

Sianli, MD

I'm so glad Elly decided to "quit" motherhood. That way, April has the chance to find another family that cares one way or the other if she's alive or not.

Lisa, Boston

Can we get a Cliff notes of Liz's past 3 relationships? I can't remember who was who. Eric - OK he was totally bad, he cheated. Didn't another once (policeman) cheat too? With someone from his similar ancestral background? So he's out, too! So that just leaves the pilot, and he was attractive but kind of a flake. I don't see any viable options here.

Meanwhile, I agree with the comments about Anthony, and that the solid, quiet love overrules the flimsy fireworks.

I married the safe, dependable guy who didn't give me huge drama or games. 20 years later he is still my knight in shining armor, steadfastly by my side through tragedy and turmoil. I see that in Anthony as well.

Rock on Liz!!!

H, New Jersey

OH BOY!!!! I know exactly how Elly feels today when trying to get April to come for supper. Except with my almost 11 year old it's trying to pry him away from his video games. AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! I think our conversation was about word for word. Nice to know I'm not alone. thanx :)

Lise C, Lakeville NB Canada

Re Thursday 17th April strip.

I have to say, if I was visiting my mum and she acted like Elly did in today's strip, I'd give exactly the same reaction as April, and I'm in my late twenties. Goodness, Elly, did you not hear your daughter? She said she'd be there!!

Elly doesn't need to give up motherhood, it's smotherhood she needs to stop! ;-)

Janet, Edinburgh

Wow. Elly spends days of strips patting herself on the back for being an amazing mother (with Connie's help in patting). Then she decides to show how awesome she is by bombarding April with comments while April is trying to get something done, and when April finally snaps, Elly flips out, shrieks, and is ready to give up. I'd hate to see what would happen if she would actually face a real crisis with April.

She wasn't even listening to April: "in a minute" does not mean "I'm not hungry" or "I can't pry myself away at all so some food here would be lovely." But we can't all be like Elly who needs food so desperately that she shovels food into her mouth, makes sounds when she's eating, and even has spit fly on occasion.

(For the record, my mother would have believed that I was indeed wrapping up something important and given me a minute or two, then said "I mean now" if I dawdled.)

Denise L, Suburbs of Chicago

Lots of comments about steps. I lost my mom when I was 30. Now dad and his wife (like Iris) have been married for almost 20 yrs. She was never my step mom, I didn't need a mom. But, the strip has taught me so much and I send mothers day cards, mother birthday cards, and worship that she is with my Dad.

SS, Sunrise Florida

Dear Lynn,

I usually side with elly but today, I can understand why April got irrated. Elly sometimes needs to take a step back and not "push" so much. Her heart is in the right place but sometimes she needs to practice a little patience.
Oh, I would like to See Gordon's parents story told in the Who's Who's section. It would be interesting to learn why they decided to get sober and how they are today.

Thanks,

Corrine, Tucson AZ

re: Thursday's comic

No wonder Connie had to remind Elly about being loving and forgiving in Monday's strip, if Elly's going to behave like a spoiled child after an otherwise reasonable explanation from April.

I mean, April assured her mother that she was hungry and would be in to eat as soon as she could get away, and gave her mother a very good reason for not jumping up that minute. What is Elly's damage, anyway? If things don't go precisely how and when she wants, she can just blow up and throw a fit?

Liz would call April a "picky face" for that kind of behavior. Fair's fair.

Elly is a picky face.

Truman F. Georgia

I'm baffled by Elly's overreaction to a minor dispute with April over how quickly she could come to the dinner table.

Wasn't Elly bragging with Connie just this week about how determined, tough, loving and forgiving they were? But now we see Elly shouting "I've had it with motherhood! I quit!" after a trivial and insignificant event involving her daughter which hardly even qualified as an "argument." Doesn't Elly have any sense of perspective?

Joshua, Chicago

I know you get a lot of mail, but I hope you will answer my comment. Why do April, Liz and Elly all wear their hair up all the time? Why never loose, or at least not in a ponytail or bun? I have a daughter a little older than April, and neither she nor her friends would ever constantly wear their hair one way, especially if they had nice, longish hair. And what are the odds that all three Patterson women would do that? Also, why is Elly still clinging to that frumpy hairstyle anyway? It makes her look much older than she is. Yes, I know this is just a comic strip, and also that this is a trivial point, but you do try to represent a certain reality. I don't see it happening here, and the characters with their same ol' same ol' buns'n'ponytails always stick out like a sore thumb for me.

Linnea, New York

I discovered recently that Anthony's delightful child Francie is actually only 3 years old - obviously extremely linguistically precocious; but there's another reason I had been convinced she was at least 6 or 7: she sleeps in a top bunk, perhaps since she was only 2!

Bunk beds (at least new / unused ones) come with very strict warning lables that NO child under 6 should ever be allowed on the top bunk, rails or no rails. The standard physical developmental coordination of toddlers and preschoolers (who also still move a lot in their sleep) means they have a much greater inherent danger of falling and even death.

I'm surprised at this lapse in the strip's usually careful research. The bed could be a bigger problem than just an artistic oversight, though: when young children are (even inadvertently) depicted in unsafe conditions in realistic comics, some reader might conceivably use this as model for their own children, not realizing the grave dangers. I hope this artistic issue will be fixed in future strip reprints, on the web or in books!

Cerena, Harbor City (not "Harbour"), California

Hi Lynn! I have followed FBOFW since it began back you-know-when and I have laughed along with the family, watching them grow up (Mike and Liz famous rows as kids reminds me of family alot!) Cried when Farley died, Cheered when April's friend stood up for herself an all of the "challenged" kids, ya know the whole thing! I could go on and on but one thing more I do want to say Lynn, is here is a heart-felt "thank you" for sharing your Pattersons family with us!

Mat, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

fyi, i am aware that Anthony/Liz "dated" in high school. And as formative as those years may be, for most of us it has no bearing - thankfully! - on what is to come in the more puposeful adult years. Anyone who thinks that because they dated in high school they should be together as adults, probably does not understand why many of those relationships, when continued into adulthood through marriage or otherwise, fail to last. people change and what high-school age person really knows what or who they like anyways? it's a learning process and not an establisher of forgone conclusions (i.e. because they dated in high school, they are still a good pair now.) if they were all that in high school, they might never have parted ways in the first place.

Misha, Charleston

I was DELIGHTED to find you on the web and will continue to read daily. Thanks for a wonderful part of my day! :)

Jill H, Murray KY

I am enjoying the flashback strips. I read them when I was young, but now that I have kids of my own....WOW! I can so totally relate.

Becca, IL

The 4/13 strip in the Sunday paper here was very beautifully illustrated. I had never seen the strip before and it was such a standout. The sky and rain colors were really like visually time traveling to growing up in Michigan. Nice job!

Bob B, Logan Utah

Just wanted to thank you for putting that link to the Liz & Anthony history. It must have taken a lot of effort to sort all those out. It does work - I have more of a sense now that this has indeed been "a work in progress." I was reading the strip at the time - must not have been paying attention!
Too bad though, that all the romance seems to have come to an end, with a bump, on that night at Shawna-Marie's wedding. I have to agree with all those readers who want some stars put back in their eyes. More hugging!
And I also agree with those who hope April will someday find someone NEW at university or work, as her love, rather than someone from the old neighborhood. That's what Ellie & John did.
Best,

Linda, Near Albany NY

I sent an e-mail response to the San Francico Chronicle recently about their cartoons. At the top of my list of favorites was FBOFW, and it occured to me how many times I have wanted to write Lynne and thank her for her wonderful strip. I have identified, laughed and cried (When Farley died saving April's life -- my eyes are filling now as I remember it)There was one Sunday (color) strip that I keep to this day, having made copies for my Mom & Dad, siblings. Where Michael and Elizabeth are fighting about the other using "their" side of the sofa, table,etc, etc.
When John returns home, there is masking tape down the middle of EVERYTHING, including poor old Farley. Oh Boy...tears of laughter. I could so relate to that.
Thank you, bless you and the Pattersons for helping us to look at our own lives with through theirs with humor, and empathy.

Jan G, Woodside CA

Where's April? What does she really think about her sister's engagement?

Gina, Jersey City NJ